Aria's POV
I clutched the roses Claire had given me, suddenly realizing I'd been standing dumbstruck at the door for several minutes. Embarrassment washed over me as I hurried back inside the house.
Thank God no one else saw me zoning out like an i***t!
After arranging the enormous bouquet in a vase, I finally checked those screenshots Lillian had sent. Elena Pierce's studio had issued a clarification thirty minutes ago: She'd returned to the country last night and coincidentally met her old friend Aiden Carter at the hotel. Unfortunately, she'd fallen ill, and Aiden had rushed her to the hospital. They apologized for any misunderstandings.
Before Elena's statement, Aiden's company had already posted their own explanation: "Our CEO Mr. Carter merely happened to encounter Ms. Pierce at
